Well, when I'm riding, I'm usually moving much faster than this, so my attention is mostly on the road, and the horse. When walking, my thoughts alone keep me company.
[ work thoughts, usually.. though as of late, they have been drifting. ]
[ cyno considers this, with a frown. going too fast on one's first day on horseback isn't ideal, but they could get to the city more quickly if they speed up a bit. ]
Let's have the reins back, then. I'll take her up to a canter, but no faster.
[ and the tone of his voice says he's firm on that. ]
[ his ears twitch beneath his cloak. tighnari eyes the reins still clutched between his hands, and then, because common sense always wins out, he hands them back. ]
Shall I have to move differently with her in a canter, or is it much the same theory? Up and down?
Up and down, forward and back. I think you'll get a feel for it once you experience it.
[ with the reins back in his hands, he eases hanan into a quicker gait, and when he's sure tighnari isn't falling off of her back, into a canter. it's always an exhilarating feeling. the wind of their movement blows back his hood, cyno's pale hair streaming against his back. he has to raise his voice a little, to be heard over the sound of hanan's hooves. ]
[ hana begins to fly. tighnari braces himself, first with the caution of a first-time horse rider, and then with wide eyes as he allows himself to fall into her rhythm, braced against cyno's chest and feeling far more secure for it.
the scenery passes them by. he smiles, wide. ]
She has such a smooth gait. [ if his voice is a little high, just a little giddy - well. ] Does it not feel as though the world flies by?
[ cyno chuckles, the sound low and rich and warm. tighnari is doing well, and he seems to be enjoying himself a great deal, though cyno can hardly blame him. riding a horse is always an exciting, uplifting sort of feeling, and for tighnari, who has never experienced it before.. he's sure that feeling is strong. ]
Yes.
[ sumeru is a blur of beautiful browns and greens mingled with the blue of the sky as they ride, and he can't help but be reminded of tighnari's eyes. ]
I am. Hanan is a marvel. [ there's a hitch of a laugh there as they skip over a rock on the path, hanan's hooves quick and sure as she canters forward. there's a moment where tighnari grips cyno's arm lightly so that he can maintain his balance - he leans into him, eyes bright. ] And you so rarely take her out for a run. Look at what you miss by walking from Sumeru City and back.
[ tighnari's excitement is palpable, contagious, and when he leans back into cyno's arms he does not bite back the urge to press closer, his cheek pressed to the side of tighnari's head, into his soft hair. his breast swells with warmth, comfort, fondness. ]
Well, she'll be getting plenty of exercise soon enough, once you choose your own horse.
[ cyno presses close, and tighnari warms. his ears flick beneath his cloak, the press of which is like a warm tremble against cyno's cheek, separated only by a layer of fabric. his tail thumps again, pleased. ]
[ cyno's heart thumps hard against his ribs, against tighnari's back; he hopes he does not read anything more than the excitement for the ride into it, but tighnari is sharp, and perceptive, and cyno has done a poor job of hiding his affections.
still, the flick of that ear and the thump of his tail pleases cyno. ]
Heh, don't be greedy, 'Nari. A horse of your own is not enough? You need mine?
[ the thumb of cyno's heart continues to be that of the drumbeats of war. tighnari's hand lingers on his arm, sliding up to the warm curve of his wrist.
he feels warm. ]
When Hanan is this marvelous, how can I compare any other horse to her? It'd simply be unfair. I will always be settling for a lesser companion.
But I suppose, if it allows us to ride side-by-side, that's a sacrifice that I must make.
[ tighnari's hand smooths along his arm, to the gentle curve of his wrist, and cyno's breath catches. tighnari knows what he's doing. of course he must know. cyno hasn't forgotten what tighnari is, what he was trained for. the tease. he swallows it down, thickly. ]
Well, I can't deny that. There is no better animal. [ a light chuckle. ] But we'll find a horse to suit you well.
[ the divine tree looms closer, now; quickly as they are moving, they are nearing the city rapidly. ]
[ they careen towards the city. tighnari smiles. ]
Thank you, Cyno.
[ for today, so far. for this. he lifts cyno's hand to gently press it to his cheek, full of unsaid affection. and then, finally, reluctantly, he lets cyno go. ]
[ they reach the city quickly enough, and it's a good, comfortable ride, if a little.. charged in a way that they both continue to ignore. sumeru city looms close, closer, until at last cyno slows hanan to a trot, and they pull into the city. hanan is stabled securely, and together they walk the earthen paths toward the bimarstan, their stop today that is closest to the stables.
cyno lifts his hood again, his hair wild beneath it, and when they arrive, he gestures. ]
[ the noise of the city is like that of a veritable wall. it shudders through him as they pass through the gates, the trotting hooves of hanan bringing them closer and closer to the economic center of a city that never sleeps, never rests - only ever marches forward on its road to knowledge and progress. hawkers shout out their wares, storefronts bang pots, and pans and ring bells to catch passerby attention. the world seems vibrant for it; the world seems unbearable.
he dismounts at cyno's advice, but, after a moment, chooses to stay close. tighnari adjusts the cloak over his head, and shakes his head ruefully. ]
And leave Hanan to you without thanking her? Please, you assume I have no manners. Allow me to help stable her. You can teach me the way.
[ tighnari follows. the stables is a busy affair. the bimarstan takes traffic from anywhere in sumeru. only the most urgent cases would travel this far. a young woman is being helped off a horse, her hand around her swollen belly and her face a mask of pain. tighnari walks past with hanan on his side, but he looks towards her with the perk of his ears.
in that moment, her hand slips - the young man helping her lets out a cry of warning. she buckles to her knees - and tighnari is already there, hand outreached to hold hers. ]
- are you alright? You're too far along to walk, and the horse ride here would have exacerbated your condition. [ and then, with a reflexive gaze behind him- ] Cyno.
[ she needs to be carried. he knows cyno can do it. ]
[ if it weren't for the fact that his hands were busy with hanan, he may very well have been right there beside tighnari the moment the woman folded to her knees - but he does not need to be told twice. quickly, he's handing hanan's reins off to a stablehand; tighnari will simply have to learn another time. helping poor women in labor to the bimarstan could theoretically be among his duties, but cyno would offer his assistance regardless.
the moment hanan's reins are handed over, cyno dashes in closer, dropping to a kneel in order to quickly, effortlessly scoop her up into his arms. ]
I've got you.
[ he says, gently, as he stands again, moving quickly. ]
[ the young man, seeing the general mahamatra kneel, nearly falls to his knees, though in relief or terror it is difficult to say. tighnari watches as he picks himself up however, jaw set grim as he half-jogs to follow along. tighnari nods. his hand turns pale from the way she is gripping it, but there is no complaint to be had there. she is in pain. ]
You will be alright. You are at the Bimarstan. What's her name? [ - anahita, that's her name. ] Miss Anahita, you must stay awake. Cyno, let's take her to the entrance. The nurses will come out to meet us. They always do, when the cases are serious.
[ the young man's reaction is hardly out of the ordinary. cyno ignores it, focused instead on carrying the poor, pained woman as quickly as he can, without the risk of tripping on his cloak.
together, the four of them move swiftly along the earthen paths from the stables, the bimarstan's busy terrace coming into view. cyno's expression is stony, serious - this is work - though there is concern softening the edges of his molten eyes. silent, cyno nods, as they move up the stone ramp toward the bimarstan's doors, which soon swing open. ]
[ as if on cue, four nurses trot briskly out to meet them. one of them, her hair pinned up high gamely in the searing heat of a noonday sun, takes one look at the general mahamatra and the lady in his arms, and calls over for back-up. an orderly takes the woman from cyno's arms and transports her to a sling. in a flurry of coordinated movement, the bimarstan's beehive takes over, each according to their role. the young man thanks cyno profusely, before rushing in after them, his eyes nearly wet with relief.
leaving tighnari and cyno on the steps, looking at the doors - and then at each other.
tighnari's eyes crinkle along its edges. ]
It's never a dull day at the Bimarstan. You did well; are you used to carrying around young women on the cusp of labour?
[ even off-duty, cyno's work as the general is never done, but he does not seem to mind. cyno inhales deeply, releases it, and turns toward tighnari, warmed by the curve of his eyes. ]
I imagine it must feel very familiar. Shall I leave you to it?
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[ of course he's trying to get the reins back. cyno smiles, and allows it. ]
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When you travel alone, is there anything in particular you do to pass the time?
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[ work thoughts, usually.. though as of late, they have been drifting. ]
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Let's have the reins back, then. I'll take her up to a canter, but no faster.
[ and the tone of his voice says he's firm on that. ]
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Shall I have to move differently with her in a canter, or is it much the same theory? Up and down?
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[ with the reins back in his hands, he eases hanan into a quicker gait, and when he's sure tighnari isn't falling off of her back, into a canter. it's always an exhilarating feeling. the wind of their movement blows back his hood, cyno's pale hair streaming against his back. he has to raise his voice a little, to be heard over the sound of hanan's hooves. ]
All right?
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the scenery passes them by. he smiles, wide. ]
She has such a smooth gait. [ if his voice is a little high, just a little giddy - well. ] Does it not feel as though the world flies by?
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Yes.
[ sumeru is a blur of beautiful browns and greens mingled with the blue of the sky as they ride, and he can't help but be reminded of tighnari's eyes. ]
Enjoying yourself?
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I am. Hanan is a marvel. [ there's a hitch of a laugh there as they skip over a rock on the path, hanan's hooves quick and sure as she canters forward. there's a moment where tighnari grips cyno's arm lightly so that he can maintain his balance - he leans into him, eyes bright. ] And you so rarely take her out for a run. Look at what you miss by walking from Sumeru City and back.
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Well, she'll be getting plenty of exercise soon enough, once you choose your own horse.
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Ah, you refuse to share Hanan. I see how it is.
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still, the flick of that ear and the thump of his tail pleases cyno. ]
Heh, don't be greedy, 'Nari. A horse of your own is not enough? You need mine?
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he feels warm. ]
When Hanan is this marvelous, how can I compare any other horse to her? It'd simply be unfair. I will always be settling for a lesser companion.
But I suppose, if it allows us to ride side-by-side, that's a sacrifice that I must make.
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Well, I can't deny that. There is no better animal. [ a light chuckle. ] But we'll find a horse to suit you well.
[ the divine tree looms closer, now; quickly as they are moving, they are nearing the city rapidly. ]
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Thank you, Cyno.
[ for today, so far. for this. he lifts cyno's hand to gently press it to his cheek, full of unsaid affection. and then, finally, reluctantly, he lets cyno go. ]
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cyno lifts his hood again, his hair wild beneath it, and when they arrive, he gestures. ]
Go on, then. Have your fun.
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he dismounts at cyno's advice, but, after a moment, chooses to stay close. tighnari adjusts the cloak over his head, and shakes his head ruefully. ]
And leave Hanan to you without thanking her? Please, you assume I have no manners. Allow me to help stable her. You can teach me the way.
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All right, then, I suppose you'll need to learn eventually. Come on.
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in that moment, her hand slips - the young man helping her lets out a cry of warning. she buckles to her knees - and tighnari is already there, hand outreached to hold hers. ]
- are you alright? You're too far along to walk, and the horse ride here would have exacerbated your condition. [ and then, with a reflexive gaze behind him- ] Cyno.
[ she needs to be carried. he knows cyno can do it. ]
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the moment hanan's reins are handed over, cyno dashes in closer, dropping to a kneel in order to quickly, effortlessly scoop her up into his arms. ]
I've got you.
[ he says, gently, as he stands again, moving quickly. ]
Deep breaths. Concentrate on the sky, or my face.
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You will be alright. You are at the Bimarstan. What's her name? [ - anahita, that's her name. ] Miss Anahita, you must stay awake. Cyno, let's take her to the entrance. The nurses will come out to meet us. They always do, when the cases are serious.
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together, the four of them move swiftly along the earthen paths from the stables, the bimarstan's busy terrace coming into view. cyno's expression is stony, serious - this is work - though there is concern softening the edges of his molten eyes. silent, cyno nods, as they move up the stone ramp toward the bimarstan's doors, which soon swing open. ]
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leaving tighnari and cyno on the steps, looking at the doors - and then at each other.
tighnari's eyes crinkle along its edges. ]
It's never a dull day at the Bimarstan. You did well; are you used to carrying around young women on the cusp of labour?
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[ even off-duty, cyno's work as the general is never done, but he does not seem to mind. cyno inhales deeply, releases it, and turns toward tighnari, warmed by the curve of his eyes. ]
I imagine it must feel very familiar. Shall I leave you to it?
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